Rockable reclining chair construction



Jan. 3, 1967 B. T. BARKSDALE 3,295,885

ROCKABLE RECLINING CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 20, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

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INVENTOR BRUNER T. BARKSDALE BY W g] 3- ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 3, 1967 T. BARKSDALE ROCKABLE RECLINING CHAIR CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 20, 1965 INVENTORY. BRUNER T. BARKSDALE ATTORNEYS.

1967 B. T. BARKSDALE 3,295,885

ROCKABLE RECLINING CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 20, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 3

FIG. 8

INVENTOR. BRUNER T. BARKSDALE ATTORN YS,

Jan. 3, 1967 'r. BARXKSDALE 3,295,885

ROCKABLE RECLINING CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 20, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

BRUNER T. BARKSDALE BY ATTOR United States Patent 3,295 885 ROCKABLE RECLINING ill-IAIR CONSTRUCTION Bruner T. Barksdale, 901 Lake Drive, Bainbridge, Ga. 31717 Filed Apr. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 449,396 13 Claims. (Cl. 297-34) The present invention relates in general to chairs, and more particularly to chairs of the variety generally known as reclining lounge chairs, which chairs may be adjusted to a variety of selected reclining positions. The present invention also relates to chairs of the type generally known as platform rockers, wherein the main seat portion of the chair is rockable upon a stationary frame.

The chair construction in accordance with the present invention provides a seat and a back portion secured to the seat and pivotable with respect thereto in a continuous manner so as to make possible a continuous adjustment of the reclining position of the chair after the fashion of reclining lounge chairs. In addition, the seat and back combination are pivotally mounted in a resilient manner on a support member secured to the stationary frame of the chair so that it is possible for the chair to rock in the manner of a platform rocker; and since the adjustable back portion of the chair is secured to and supported only by the seat portion of the chair, rocking may be effected for all positions of adjustment on the back portion. In combination with the rocking and reclining features of the chair construction in accordance with the invention there is provided an adjustable foot rest and an automatic actuating mechanism therefor including means for adjusting the elevation of the foot rest in the extended position. The result is a lounge-type chair which is completely adjustable from the vertical position of the back portion to a completely horizontal configuration with rocking thereof provided for all positions of the chair.

One very desirable feature of the instant invention resides in the back portion of the chair being pivotally connected to the seat thereof and spring biased so that the chair in the unoccupied position will normally assume an upright or vertical position of the back portion. A locking mechanism is provided between the back portion and the seat so that pressure against the back portion by the person occupying the chair will not produce a tilting thereof without release of the locking mechanism; however, the locking mechanism is so constructed that upon the release thereof the back may be titlted to any desired position by the normal pressure applied thereto in opposition to the spring bias, and because of the continuous adjusting feature of the locking mechanism, an infinite adjustment of the back portion is made possible. However, as soon as thepressure applied to the back portion is relieved, as when the person occupying the chair rises the locking mechanism will automatically release, allowing the spring bias to return the back portion to the upright or vertical position.

A further advantage resides in the fact that the chair .construction in accordance with the invention is also provided with a foot rest which extends from beneath the seat of the chair between the seat and the frame portion thereof, and is normally spring biased into its forward or extended position. A latch mechanism is provided for the foot rest mechanism so that the foot rest may be retracted and latched out of use against the normal spring bias whenever desired; however, due to the bias of the foot rest mechanism, the foot rest will extend automatically when the latch mechanism is released. This latch mechanism for the foot rest may be connected to the locking mechanism for the reclining back portion of the Patented Jan. 3, 1967 chair so that upon release of the back portion for adjustment to a reclining position the foot rest will automatically be released into the extended position. However, it is also within the purview of the invention to provide the locking mechanism for the foot rest independent from the locking mechanism for the back portion of the chair so that the foot rest may be retained in the retracted position whenever desired.

As a further advantage, the foot rest mechanism is also provided with a height adjusting means which makes possible an adjustment of the vertical position of the foot rest in the extended position. This adjusting means provides for several steps of adjustment so that the foot rest may be positioned in the vertical direction to provide various degrees of elevation thereof.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a rockable reclining chair of extremely simple and sturdy construction characterized by economy of manufacture and versatility in use.

It is another obqect of the instant invention to provide a chair construction provided with a seat and back combination rockably supported on a fixed frame and adjustable with respect to one another between a vertical and a completely horizontal configuration of the back portion.

It is still another object of the instant invention to provide a rocking chair construction provided with a continuously adjustable reclining back portion and an automatically extending foot rest operable either in combination with the reclining back portion or independently thereof.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide a chair construction capable of rocking upon a fixed frame portion and having a continuously adjustable back portion and an automatically extending foot rest capable of adjustment to a plurality of selected elevations in the extended position thereof.

It is still a further object of the instant invention to provide a chair construction having a reclining back portion and a locking mechanism therefore such that said back portion will lock in any desired position of inclination but will automatically return to the normal upright or vertical position when the chair becomes unoccupied.

By virtue of these and more specific features set forth with particularity in the following specification and claims the invention provides a rockable reclining chair construction which exhibits far superior characteristics to those heretofore attainable with a design of much less simplicity. This will be more fully understood from the embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the invention illustrating the frame construction and various features of the back adjusting mechanism and the foot rest mechanism;

FIGURE 3 is a rear view of the chair construction of the instant invention illustrating the locking mechanism and biasing means for the back portion of the chair;

FIGURE 4 is a detail view of the locking mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a top section view taken along line 5-5 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a side view of the chair construction of the instant invention, showing the foot rest in the retracted position;

FIGURE 7 is a top section view of the chair construction illustrating the operating mechanism for the foot rest;

FIGURE 8 is a rear view of the chair mechanism illustrating various portions of the foot rest operating mechanism;

FIGURE 9 is a detail view of the latch mechanism for restraining the foot rest;

FIGURE 10 is a side view of the foot rest locking mechanism;

FIGURE 11 is a side section view of the chair construction illustrating the mechanism for adjusting the elevation of the foot rest;

FIGURE 12 illustrates a second embodiment of the automatic actuating mechanism for the foot rest; and

FIGURE 13 is a detailed view of the spring construction for the foot rest retracting mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 12.

Looking now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used to designate corresponding elements throughout the various views of the drawing, wherever possible, and more particularly to FIGURE 1, Wherein 10 and 11 represent a pair of frame members of any conventional construction serving as the base support for the chair and providing a basic outline which may accommodate a complete upholstering of the chair or may be utilized in its basic form to provide arms and support for the general chair construction. The frame members 10 and 11 are suitably secured to one another in a conventional manner, such as by means of a front face board 12 and a rear support board 13. The combination of frames 10 and 11 and the support boards 12 and 13 constitute the stationary platfrom for the chair which is suitably reinforced in the conventional manner to provide a rigid structure capable of withstanding forces and weight encountered during normal use of such a device. No particular design for this platform construction is required by the invention so long as the structure strength provided thereby is sufiicient to support the remainder of the chair construction in use.

As seen both in FIGURES 1 and 2, a pivot rod 14 extends between the frame members 10 and 11 and is suitably secured thereto in any conventional manner, such as by brackets 15. The seat 16 of the chair is suitably secured to a pair of metal support members 18 which are in turn pivotally mounted on the support shaft 14 by means of a connecting linkage 19 secured to each of the support members 18. The back portion 17 of the chair is also pivotally mounted on extension 18a of support member 18 so that as a result of the pivotal connection between the support linkages 19 and the support rod 14, the entire seat construction is pivotable about the rod 14, supported by the platform or support frame of the chair.

In order to stabilize the chair in a neutral position, a pair of springs 20 is connected between each of the metal support members 18 and brackets 21 secured to the frame or platform of the chair. Since the seat of the chair is supported entirely upon the pivot rod 14, the support linkage 19 and the pivot rod 14 should be of sufiiciently sturdy construction to accommodate the forces necessary to support a heavy individual; however, by properly balancing the construction upon the pivot rod 14, the springs 20 may be provided of relatively light construction so that an extremely resilient rocking of the chair may be achieved. The seat member 16 is secured to the support member 18 in any suitable manner and the back portion 17 is pivotally secured to the extension 18a of the support member 18, as at 22.

The back portion 17 of the chair is biased in the normal upright or vertical position by a pair of spring members 23 (FIGURES 2 and 3) which extend between brackets 24 secured to the back portion 17, and a cross beam 25, secured to the support member 18. A guide rod 26 is pivotally fastened to the bracket 24 and extends through the center of the spring 23 passing through an aperture in the cross beam 25. A stop member 27 is fastened to the extreme end of the guide pin 26 on the opposite side of the cross beam from the spring 23 so that the upright rest position of the back portion 17 is determined by this stop. Pressure by the person occupying the chair against a back portion 17 will therefore pivot the back portion against the bias of springs 23 to a plurality of positions including the complete horizontal disposition of the back member in line with the seat member 16.

In order to retain the back member 17 in an upright or any intermediate position between the upright position and the horizontal position, a locking member generally designated 30in FIGURE 3 is provided. This locking member shown in detail in FIGURES 4 and 5 consists of a locking bar 31 pivotally mountedto the back portion 17 by a bracket 32. The free end of the blocking bar 31 passes through an aperture in a guide frame 33 which includes a generally U-shaped portion 34 accommodating one end of a latching member 35, the other end of which is secured to the guide bracket 33 by means of a spring 36. An aperture 35a in the locking plate 35 is a generally circular shape (FIGURE 5) dimensioned only slightly larger than the locking bar 31 so that pivoting of the plate 35 within the U-shaped portion 34 in response to spring 36 will cause a binding between the plate and the bar 31 locking the bar 31 in a fixed position. The bias of the spring 36 is further aided by normal pressure against the back portion 17 by the person occupying the chair which produces a downward movement of the locking bar 31 by further increasing the binding grip of the locking plate insuring a firm lock upon the bar. In order to release the bar, the locking plate 35 must be pivoted upward at the end attached to spring 36 until the plate is substantially transverse to the locking bar 31 allowing the bar to slip through the plate. This pivoting of the plate 35 is accomplished by a cam 37 mounted on a pivot lever 38 secured to the cross beam 25. The lever 38 is spring biased in the counter clockwise direction by spring 39, also attached to the cross beam 25 at flange 25a, so that the cam 37 is normally in the inoperative position. A control cable 40 is connected to the end of the lever 38 and serves to rotate the lever in the clockwise direction against the bias of spring 39 forcing the cam surface 37 against the locking plate 35 thereby pivoting the plate to a position transverse to the locking bar 31. The control cable 40 extends, for example, along the back of the chair and into one side frame member, such as frame member 11, where an actuating rod 41 is provided.

Due to the particular orientation of the locking bar 31 and the locking plate 35 any tendency for the back portion 17 to rise to the vertical position in response to bias by springs 23 will cause the locking bar 31 to move in a vertical direction pulling the plate 35 with it and forcing the plate into the substantially transverse position necessary for providing slippage between the bar 31 and the plate 35. As a result, if the person occupying the chair should rise, the back portion 17 will automatically return to the normal upright or vertical position.

In summary, it should be apparent that pressure against the back portion 17 in conjunction with actuation of the control lever 41 will allow the person occupying the chair to force the back portion 17 to a reclined position, and release of the actuating lever 41 will then produce and maintain a locking of the back portion 17 in the desired position as long as pressure is maintained thereon. However, as soon as the person occupying the chair rises, the back portion will assume its previous upright position.

As seen in FIGURES 1, 2, 6 and 7, the chair construction in accordance with the instant invention is also provided with a foot rest 50, which may be extended from the retracted position shown in FIGURE 6 to the extended position shown in FIGURE 2. The foot rest 50 is hinged to a pair of supports 51 which are in turn pivotally secured to a guide rod 52 beneath the seat 16. A pair of guide channels 53 are pivotally mounted on support shaft 54 mounted on the support members 18. The guide rod 52 connected to the foot rest 50 projects at either end into a respective guide channel 53 so that movement of the foot rest 50 from the retracted to the extended position is guided by the guide channel 53. The front end of each guide channel is provided with a support pin 55 which engages a respective pivot link 57 pivotally secured to supoprt rod 56, supported by the support member 18.

In order to extend and retract the foot rest 50 the guide rod 52 is reciprocated back and forth within the support channels 53 by a scissor linkage arrangement 60, seen most clearly in FIGURE 7. The arrangement 60 made up of scissor links 6% and 60b is secured at one end to the guide rod 52 by links 520 and 52b and is pivotally mounted at the other end to the support rod 54 for the guide channels 53 by pivot levers 61a and 61b. The arrangement 60 is normally biased toward the extended position by connecting the free ends of levers 61a and 61b to a pair of brackets 63 through springs 62 such that the force of the springs 62 will pivot the members 61 forcing the linkage arrangement 60 outward pushing the guide rod 52 and thereby extending the foot rest 50. The foot rest 50 may be retracted against the force of springs 62 by applying a pressure at the end of the foot rest in the inward direction of the chair until the foot rest is urged into the position illustrated in FIG. 6. At this point, a latching mechanism illustrated in detail in FIGS. 9 and 10 serves to secure the foot rest in the retracted positon. A notch 70 is provided at one extreme end of one support member 51; which notch 70 engages in the retracted position of the foot rest with a locking lever 71 pivoted to the guide channel 53 at 72. A spring 73 urges the locking lever 71 in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 9 to engage with the notch 70 locking the support 51 and preventing movement of the foot rest into the extended position in response to spring 62. A control cable 74 connected to the lever 71 serves as a guide rod for the spring 73 and also makes possible an actuation of the lever 71 in the counter-clockwise direction releasing the support 51 to allow the spring 62 to automatically extend the foot rest 50.

Since the links 57 which support the forward end of the pivotable guide channels 53 are also pivotable on the support rod 56, a cranking of the support rod 56 while the foot rest 50 is in the extended position will serve to adjust the elevation of the foot rest. In the alternative,

a pivoting of the foot rest about the upper edged faceboard 12 will produce a cranking of the support rod 56. Therefore, by controlling the cranking of support rod 56 the elevation of the foot rest may be adjusted. This control is accomplished by means of sector gear 80 connected to support rod 56, as seen in FIG. 11. A spring 81 is connected to the linkage 57 associated with each of the guide channels 53 and tends to bias the guide channel to the lower position raising the foot rest 50 to its highest elevation. A lower elevation of the foot rest is achieved by repressing the foot rest, which serves to rotate sector gear 80. The foot rest may then be retained at a given elevation by means of plunger stop member 83, which serves to secure the sector 80 in a given position. The plunger stop member 83 is actuated by means of a control 84 positioned on the upper frame portion of the support frame, within easy reach of the person occupying the chair.

It is seen from the structural arrangement provided by the described embodiment of the invention that since the entire chair mechanism including the feet, back portion, and'foot rest along with the associated operating mechanisms therefore are pivotally supported entirely upon the pivot rod 14, a rocking of the chair upon the platform or support frame will be possible regardless of the position of the back member 17 or the foot rest 50. In addition, the locking mechanism for the back portion 17 makes possible a continuous adjustment of this member and a locking thereof at any selected position from vertical to horizontal by releasing the latch mechanism and applying force against the back member 17 until the desired position is reached. At that time, the locking mechanism is released and a binding between the locking bar 31 and the locking plate 35 produced by the spring 36 and the force continuously applied on the back member 17 will prevent further adjustment of the seat. When the person occupying the seat rises, the force of springs 23 against the back member 17 will automatically release the locking member 30 allowing the back 17 to rise to its normal vertical position.

The foot rest being provided with a pair of biasing sprigs 62, an extension of the foot rest can be achieved by releasing the latch associated therewith either in conjunction with the release of the back locking mechanism or separately, if desired, and the foot rest 50 may also be adjusted with regard to the elevation thereof by a separate adjusting mechanism 84 within easy reach of the person occupying the chair.

A more simplified construction for the foot rest biasing mechanism is illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. In this arrangement instead of providing the levers 61 and spring members 62, a spring mechanism is provided at the point of cross-over of the linkages 60a and 60b. A detail of this mechanism is illustrated in FIG. 13. A spring keeper 91 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the upper scissor link 60b and extends through the center of a coil spring 92 which is secured at one end to the lower scissor link 69a and at the other end to a tension adjustment plate 93. The tension adjustment plate 93 is secured to the spring keeper 91 by means of a fastener 94 so that the lower end of the coil spring 92 which is fastened to the tension adjustment plate 93 is effectively secured to the scissor link 60. This arrangement effectively provides a coil spring connection between the linkages 60b and 60a suitable to bias the scissor linkage in the open or extended position. The adjustment plate 93 may be rotated with respect to linkage 60b to increase or decrease the tension on the spring by loosening the fastener 94.

A retraction of the foot rest 50 will cause a closing of the scissor linkage 60b and 60a effecting a rotation of the coil spring 92 against the bias normally provided by this spring. This arrangement provides a much simpler and more economic construction than illustrated in FIG. 7, requiring a spring of less force than the springs 62 provided in the former construction.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment in accordance with the instant invention, it is understood that the same is not limited thereto, but is susceptible of many changes and modifications within the spirit and scope thereof, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein, but intend to cover such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rockable reclining chair comprising a seat and a 'back portion, stationary frame means for supporting said seat and back portion, said seat being pivotally mounted on said frame means and said back portion being pivotally mounted on said seat, first spring means interconnecting said seat and said frame means for resiliently biasing said seat in a neutral position, second spring means interconnecting said back portion and said seat for resiliently biasing said back portion into a neutral generally upright position, and controlled locking means for selectively locking said back portion in any position between said upright neutral position and a generally horizontal position in response to pressure on said back portion, said locking means automatically releasing said back portion in the absence of said pressure, said seat and back portion being mounted on said frame means such that said seat and back portion are rockable and nearly balanced in any position of said back portion, said first spring means serving to aid in balancing said seat and back portion and to provide a resilient rocking motion of said seat and back portion when said back portion is in any position.

2. A rockable reclining chair comprising a seat and a back portion, stationary frame means for supporting said seat and back portion, said seat :being pivotaly mounted on said frame means and said back portion being pivotally mounted on said seat so as to be rotatable from a generally horizontal position to a neutral generally upright position, first spring means interconnecting said seat and said frame means for resiliently biasing said seat in to a neutral position, second spring means interconnecting said back portion and said seat for resiliently biasing said back portion into said neutral generally upright position, and controlled locking means for selectively locking said back portion in any position between said upright neutral position and said generally horizontal position in response to pressure on said back portion, said locking means autmatioally releasing said back portion in the absence of said pressure,

mounting means for pivotaly mounting said seat on said frame means including a tubular support member secured to said frame means and pivot linkage means secured to the approximate transverse center of said seat and pivotally mounted on said tubular support member such that said seat and back portion are essentially balanced about said mounting means when said back portion is rotated into said generally horizontal position or any position intermediate said generally horizontal position and said neutral generally upright position,

said first spring means including springs extending from said seat to said frame means on either side of said tubular support member on both lateral sides of said seat to aid in the balancing of said seat and back portion when said back portion is rotated into any position and to provide a resilient rocking motion of said seat and back portion when said back portion is in any position.

3. A rockable reclining chair comprising a seat and a back portion, stationary frame means for supporting said seat and back portion, said seat being pivotally mounted on said frame means and said back portion being pivotally mounted on said seat so as to be rotatable from a generally horizontal position to a neutral generally upright position, first spring means interconnecting said seat and said frame means for resiliently biasing said seat into a neutral position, second spring means interconnecting said back portion and said seat for resiliently biasing said back portion into said neutral generally upright position, and controlled locking means for selectively locking said back portion in any position between said upright neutral position and said generally horizontal position in response to pressure on said back portion, said locking means automatically releasing said back portion in the absence of said pressure,

mounting means for pivotally mounting said seat on said frame means including a tubular support member secured to said frame means and pivot linkage means secured to the approximate transverse center of said seat and pivotally mounted on said tubular support member said first spring means serving to aid in balancing said seat and back portion when said back portion is in any position and to provide a resilient rocking motion of said seat and back portion when said back portion is in any position,

said controlled locking means including pivotal control plate means connected to said seat, locking bar means pivotally mounted to said back portion and extending through an aperture in said control plate means, bracket means enclosing a portion of said pivotal control plate means to limit the pivotal movement of said pivotal control plate means, said control plate means binding said locking bar means in response to backward movement of said back portion and releasing said locking bar means in response to forward movement of said back portion, and bracket means supporting said pivotal control plate means when said control plate means binds said locking bar means. 4. A rockable reclining chair comprising a seat and a back portion, stationary frame means for supporting said seat and back portion, said seat being pivotally mounted on said frame means and said back portion being pivotally mounted on said seat, first spring means interconnecting said seat and said frame means for resiliently biasing said seat into a neutral position, second spring means interconnecting said back portion and said seat for resiliently biasing said back portion into a neutral generally upright position, and controlled locking means for selectively locking said back portion in any position between said upright neutral position and a generally horizontal position in response to pressure on said back portion, said locking means automatically releasing said back portion in the absence of said pressure,

foot rest means operatively associated with said seat, and actuating means for automatically shifting said footrest means from a retracted position closely adjacent said seat to an extended position spaced from said seat,

channel means mounted to the underside of said seat for guiding said foot rest means during movement between said retracted and said extended positions,

said channel means being pivotal at one end thereof about a transverse pivot axis adjacent the rear of said seat and height adjusting means connected to the other end of said channel means for selectively elevating said other end with respect to said transverse pivot axis to adjust the elevation of said foot rest means. 5. A rockable reclining chair comprising a seat and a back portion, stationary frame means for supporting said seat and back portion, said seat being pivotally mounted on said frame means and said back portion pivotally mounted on said seat, first spring means interconnecting said seat and said frame means for resiliently biasing said seat into a neutral position, second spring means interconnecting said back portion and said seat for resiliently biasing said back portion into a neutral generally upright position, and controlled locking means for selectively locking said back portion in any position between said upright neutral position and a generally horizontal position in response to pressure on said back portion, and said locking means automatically releasing said back portion in the absence of said pressure,

foot rest means operatively associated with said seat, and actuating means for automatically shifting said footrest means from a retracted position closely adjacent said seat to an extended position spaced from said seat, said actuating means including scissor linkage means spring biased into an open position extending said foot rest means and means for latching said foot rest means in the retracted position in opposition to said actuating means.

6. A rockable reclining chair comprising a seat and a back portion, stationary frame means for supporting said seat and back portion, said seat being pivotally mounted on said frame means and said back portion being pivotally mounted on said seat, first spring means interconnecting said seat and said frame means for resiliently biasing said seat into a neutral position, second spring means interconnecting said back portion and said seat for resiliently biasing said back portion into a neutral generally upright position, and controlled locking means for selectively locking said back portion in any position between said upright neutral position and a generally horizontal position in response to pressure on said back portion, said locking means automatically releasing said back portion in the, absence of said pressure,

foot rest means operatively associated with said seat, and actuating means for automatically shifting said foot rest means from a retracted position closely adjacent said seat to an extended position spaced from said seat, said actuating means including scissor linkage means spring biased into an open position extending said foot rest means and means for latching said foot rest means in the retracted position in opposition to said actuating means, actuating spring means for actuating said scissor linkage means, said scissor linkage means being provided -with a pair of pivot links and said actuating spring means interconnecting said pivot links and said frame means so as to normally bias said scissor linkage means in the extended position. 7. A rock-able reclining chair having a seat, seat support means for movable mounting said seat to a stationary frame member, a back portion pivotally mounted on said seat, spring means interconnecting said back portion and said seat for resiliently biasing said back portion into a neutral generally upright position, foot rest means operatively connected to said seat, and actuating means for automatically shifting said foot rest means from a retracted position closely adjacent said seat to an extended position spaced from said seat,

channel means mounted to the underside of said seat for guiding said foot rest means during movement between said retracted and said extended positions,

said channel means being pivotal at one end thereof about a transverse pivot axis adjacent the rear of said seat and height adjusting means including means connected to the other end of said channel means for selectively raising and lowering said other end with respect to said transverse pivot axis thereby adjusting the elevation of said foot rest means.

8. A rockable reclining chair having a seat, a back portion pivotally mounted on said seat, spring means interconnecting said back portion and said seat for resiliently biasing said back portion into a neutral generally upright position, foot rest means operatively associated with said seat, and actuating means for automatically shifting said foot rest means from a retracted position closely adjacent said seat to an extended position spaced from said seat,

said actuating means including scissor linkage means spring biased into an open position extending said foot rest means and means for latching said foot rest means in the retracted position in opposition to said actuating means,

actuating spring means for actuating said scissor linkage means being provided with a pair of pivot links and said actuating spring means interconnecting said pivot links and said frame means so as to normally bias said scissor linkage means in the extended position.

9. The rockable reclining chair of claim 7 wherein said height adjusting means includes rotatable support pin means mounted on said seat support means, rotatable connecting means for connecting said rotatable support pin means to the other end of said channel means, operating means for rotating said rotatable connecting means bidirectionally about said rotatable support pin means to selectively position said other end of said channel means with respect to said pivot axis for adjusting the elevation of said foot rest means.

10. The rockable reclining chair as in claim 9, wherein said operating means further includes driveable means operatively connected to said rotatable support pin means so as to rotate with said rotatable support pin means, and control means for controlling said driveable means to selectively adjust the elevation of said foot rest means.

11. The rockable reclining chair as in claim 10 wherein said operating means further includes bias means for biasing said foot rest means at a highest elevation.

12. The rockable reclining chair as in claim 11 wherein said foot rest means is connected to said channel means by means of guide rod means, said guide rod means constructed to engage with said channel means to translate along said channel means such that said foot rest means can be automatically shifted from said retracted position to said extended position, said rotatable connecting means includes pivot link means rigidly attached to said rotatable support pin means and engaging the other end of said channel means so as to rotate with said support pin means, said driveable means further includes rotatable sector gear means rigidly mounted to said rotatable support pin means, said sector gear having a plurality of gear teeth,

said control means including plunger means mounted to said seat support means, said plunger means constructed to engage and disengage with selected ones of said plurality of gear teeth, switch means mounted to said seat support means for selectively activating said plunger means to cause said plunger means to engage disengage from said gear teeth such that as said foot rest means is depressed said support pin means are rotated in a direction to lower said other end of said channel means in a plurality of selected elevated positions, said channel means being maintained in a given one of said plurality of selected elevated positions by the operation of said switch means to cause said plunger means to engage a selected one of said gear teeth to prevent rotation of said sector gear, and said bias means includes spring means attached to said pivot link means and said stationary frame means such that said other end of said channel means is raised to a point of highest elevation such that said foot rest means is biased at a highest elevation.

13. A rockable reclining chair having a seat, seat support means for movably mounting said seat to a stationary frame member, a back portion pivotally mounted on said seat, spring means interconnecting said back portion and said seat for resiliently biasing said back portion into a neutral generally upright position, foot rest means operatively connected to said seat, and actuating means for automatically shifting said foot rest means from a retracted position closely adjacent said seat to an extended position spaced from said seat, said actuating means including scissor linkage means spring biased into an open position extending said foot rest means away from said seat, and means for latching said foot rest means in the retracted position in opposition to said actuating means, actuating spring means for actuating said scissor linkage means, said scissor linkage means including a pair of scissor links and said actuating spring means interconnecting said scissor links at a point where said scissor links intersect so as to bias said scissor linkage means in the extended position, said actuating spring means including means for selectively adjusting the tension thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 155,187 9/1874 Enger 297430 334,087 1/ 1886 Price 297285 426,602 4/ 1890 Muhl 297430 730,320 6/1903 Van Slyke et al. 297-430 X 953,872 4/1910 Vrba 297430 X 2,392,477 1/ 1946 Holm 188-67 X 2,580,165 12/1951 Fox 297-375 X 2,888,977 6/ 1959 Thaden 297306 X 2,901,026 8/1959 Thaden 297-375 X FOREIGN PATENTS 70,568 12/ 1958 France.

1,196,751 5/1959 France.

803,554 4/ 1951 Germany.

426,880 4/ 1935 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. JAMES T. MCCALL, Examiner. 

7. A ROCKABLE RECLINING CHAIR HAVING A SEAT, SEAT SUPPORT MEANS FOR MOVABLE MOUNTING SAID SEAT TO A STATIONARY FRAME MEMBER, A BACK PORTION PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SEAT, SPRING MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID BACK PORTION AND SAID SEAT FOR RESILIENTLY BIASING SAID BACK PORTION INTO A NEUTRAL GENERALLY UPRIGHT POSITION, FOOT REST MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SEAT, AND ACTUATING MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTING SAID FOOT REST MEANS FROM A RETRACTED POSITION CLOSELY ADJACENT SAID SEAT TO AN EXTENDED POSITION SPACED FROM SAID SEAT, CHANNEL MEANS MOIUNTED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID HEAT FOR GUIDING SAID FOOT REST MEANS DURING MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID RETRACTED AND SAID EXTENDED POSITIONS, SAID CHANNEL MEANS BEING PIVOTAL AT ONE END THEREOF ABOUT A TRANSVERSE PIVOT AXIS ADJACENT THE REAR OF SAID SEAT AND HEIGHT ADJUSTING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS CONNECTED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID CHANNEL MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY RAISING AND LOWERING SAID OTHER END WITH RESPECT TO SAID TRANSVERSE PIVOT AXIS THEREBY ADJUSTING THE ELEVATION OF SAID FOOT REST MEANS. 